Mick Bates AM calls for full investigation as farming industry reels from new outbreaks of foot and mouth

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Thu 13th Sep 2007

Mick Bates has called for a full investigation into government research facilities following the fresh outbreak of foot and mouth at a farm in Surrey:

"This new outbreak of foot and mouth is devastating to the farming community. It has come at the worst possible time for farmers as animal markets opened across Wales.

"This is the busiest time of year for the livestock industry. We have hundreds of sheep waiting to be sold as bans on animal movement are put in place across Wales."

"Disease is serious for animal health and the economics of the farming industry. Government facilities should lead by example and practice high standards of biosecurity to stop the spread of infection.

"These research facilities should not be situated in areas of such extensive agriculture - the risks are too high. I call on the Government to undertake a full review of all such facilities that they run. We must identify all sites which lack effective control measures so that we can protect all vulnerable rural communities.

"It is vital that we understand where this disease has come from if we are to stop future outbreaks. We need a clear explanation of how and why foot and mouth was being handled at Pirbright and why basic biosecurity safeguards were so drastically ignored."

End / Diwedd